The Mabelhood

Many of my patients tell me how their energy declines in the middle of the day around 3 pm, and the sugar cravings kick in. This is the time of day when our cortisol levels are starting to decline and our body needs to be re-fueled. The body craves sugar as an immediate source of energy, but sugar can also have negative effects on the body including; leaching minerals from the body, depressing the immune system, contributing to obesity, mood imbalances, and is linked to deficiencies in memory and even to cancer.
Reducing a high-sugar diet is important to overall health, but not always easy due to those cravings! Here are a few tips on how to do it. But remember to try and go easy on yourself. ...

Picky eaters in your family? Try slipping fruit into each meal. It can increase the nutrient content without the hassle or pushback of veggies. The key difference between fruits and vegetables is the sugar content and therefore the calorie content. If you have the treats, cakes, cookies and ice creams under control, then you won’t have to worry about calories from something as nourishing as fruit.
Think of all the other ways to use fruit other than out of hand:
Frozen
• Use in place of ice cubes to flavour cocktails, water
• Puree into a fruit topping for banana bread
• Use in smoothies
Cooked
• Compote keeps in the fridge for 10 days and in the freezer for weeks and is a great way ...

We just had a week at the cottage and there are a whole lotta reasons why I think taking your family to a cottage is a really good thing. Mostly because it’s an affordable way to bring on a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of reality all at once. And if you know me, there’s pretty much nothing I love more than making my kiddos face reality. So what do I love? Let me count the ways:
Becoming one with nature:
At our cottage there are many dragon flies. The conversation with my six-year-old included him asking why they always “carry each other around”. It provided a great opportunity for me to talk about mating and the importance of dragonfly reproduction. He served it right back to me ...

Why is it that this never fails? Ever?
Almost every morning, I’ll stumble out of bed, make my way to the kitchen and put the coffee on. And then – as if the Universe knows I need a moment to collect myself – the instant I pour myself that first cup of coffee, all hell will break loose.
The following 6 things are guaranteed (seriously – guaranteed) to happen when the coffee hits my cup:
1. The baby wakes up.
2. My toddler goes poo and yells at me to come wipe her bum.
3. A very full bowl of cereal spills all over the (usually freshly cleaned) floor.
4. My 5 year old dresses herself in winter clothes (in the summer) and can’t understand why I’m leading her back to her bedroom to change.
5. ...

September means back to school and that can be a tough transition time for families. To help parents out, I am offering my best short tip for each age to ensure everyone gets the year off to a good start:
1. PRESCHOOLERS
Young children are still very dependant on their parents, hence they are more unsure when they are left in unfamiliar surroundings with new people. Help children anticipate the first day by visiting their new nursery school or day care so they can meet their new teacher and see their surroundings in advance of the first drop off.
Parental attitudes are infectious; so its important you broadcast the message that you trust your child to manage and that everything will be ...

Da dum. Da dum. Dadumdadumdadum!! Get in on SHARK WEEK! Save 30% on Personalized Name Stickers with the shark or hammerhead icon! Click here to take advantage of this fin-tastic deal ;)
Sale goes until July 12 at 11:59pm EST!
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Welcome to summer! Canadians work hard for their very few and very short dog days of the season. My hope is that you make the most of them with delicious, hydrating, high-nutrient foods. Just for fun, take a look at what the Meteorological Service of Canada predicts the hottest day will be in your area. Then we can stock up on high-nutrient foods to keep you going.
Predicted Hottest Day of the year, by Canadian city
Provided by: Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service of Canada
Barrie
Jul-24
Quebec City
Jul-24
Brandon
Jul-29
Regina
Aug-02
Calgary
Jul-31
Saskatoon
Aug-01
Charlottetown
Jul-28
St. John’s
Jul-29
Edmonton
Jul-30
Sudbury
Jul-23
Fredericton
Jul-26
Thunder ...

For over three years, Daddy-o has been a Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) parent. It has not been without some challenges and now he’s transitioning back into the local office. This is good news! Although he works long hours, it means he will be home most nights. It’s something we are all looking forward to. (Kind of.)
You see, I’ve grown quite accustom to my strange new existence as a solo parent during the week. He had a full week home a couple of weeks ago and, after that, I noticed that re-entry might be a little bit of a transition for me. Here are the reasons why I was enjoying the solo parenting gig:
You don’t get randomly asked “Whatcha doing?” by an adult.
This question now gets asked ...

When people talk about summer, camp seems to be a popular activity for kids. But what if your little ones aren’t heading to camp this summer?
Here are some fun ideas for those stay at home kids!
Neighborhood fun
Do your kids have friends in the neighborhood? Have them take turns going to each other’s homes and make their own fun.
Day trips
Set aside some days this summer and plan to go to activities around your area! Many museums have special summer exhibits; look up what’s in your area.
Get crafty
Pinterest is a great resource for kid’s crafts & games.
Make your own summer camp
Get creative! If your kids aren’t going to camp, bring camp to them. Set up daily activities ...